Lean-Premixed Combustion of Kerosene Using Porous-Media Vaporizer for 100 W-class Miniature Gas Turbine Combustor

Abstract

A miniature combustor using kerosene fuel for a 100 W-class micro gas turbine was developed. The unique feature of this combustor is the use of porous media as a liquid-fuel vaporizer. The porous media was heated by combustion, causing the vaporization of the liquid fuel in the miniature combustor and the mixing of the vaporized fuel with air, which resulted in lean-premixed combustion. Experimental results indicated that the flame was stable including the design operation condition and that the combustion efficiency was >99.5%. The NOx emission was low as <15 ppm. The orifice located in the combustion chamber had significant effects on the flame stability and combustion efficiency. The effects of this orifice on the flame stability and the emissions were examined. The proposed miniature combustor using the porous-media vaporizer is suitable for practical use in the 100 W-class micro gas turbine.